Cigarette lighter



July', 23, 1946. B CQQPER ETA;-v y 2,404,435

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed. NOV. 28, 1945 4 2 Sheets-'Sheet l e 2 28 l u n 5 s y a n 2 3 I? a 7 25 l Y f7 Bf/w/w//v 600A/5e and Alweer F. Hamm/wv INVENTORS. l

Hitt orn -27 Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE Benjamin Cooper, NewYork, N. Y., andAlbert F.

Hohmann, Teaneck, N. J.; .saidJHohmann assignor to said Cooper `Application November 28, 1'945,fSerialvNo. 31,242

(Cl. .W7-7.1)

6 Claims. l 'Ihis invention relates -to cigarette lighters. An object of this invention is to .provide a cig- .arette lighter comprising abody and a cover .hinged thereto, said..body .beingformed .with a surface .inclined 4downwardly and .forwardly toward thefront surface. of .the-body, and said .cover .being .provided Witha complementary inclined surface, the ybody :being .formed with a. fuel` chamber andiwithawick-passagecommunicating there- '.witl1,;perpendicular.to said yinclined surface on .the-body, .whereby .to provide for .can .upwardly and forwardly :shooting fname located .where it is easily :accessible for lghtingfcigarettes,.cigars -for .'pipes, and; furthermore .providing lample vair space all around the .wicksoas toprevent dead pockets 'which are .likely to `extinguish the' flame when moving the. lighter -around .after thename islit.

-'Still another object iof this invention is to provide vin Aa cigarette lighter of 4the character rdescribed, a cover provided witha .bulge .or bump projecting forwardly of :the front surface of the body, 'which may` be'easilyengaged by thefthumb to' facilitate opening the cover.

`Still another object of this invention isto pro- 'videza cigarette lighterofthe characterdescribed,

vcomprising .a body `provided k.with :fan :opening to 'receive a spring .pressed piece :of vflint,.;:and a screw plug to close v.said :opening-'said bodyrbein'g.

Afurthermore .formed :with fa fuel :chamber `and A.provided with a plug to .close said chambensaid plug being formed on 'its .inner surface with :a central drilled opening, and provided witha strip of steel forced 'into the opening .and projecting therefrom to serve .as a screw driver fior punscrewing the screw plug for the flint opening.

Yet a lfurtherobject of Vthis invention is .to provide a cigarette lighter of 'the `character 'described, comprising a body `andalco'ver. hinged thereto, tsaid cover having :a 'top surface,fflush withfpart of the `top .surfaceof'the body,ean`d said cover interfitting withthe body-ltoiprovi'deismooth top l'and iside surfaces, and :said cover 'being; furthermore formed with `an opening 'to receive the lWicky 'on the body, and with fan Aopening dtolrece'ive the'flin't 'Still alfurther` object-'of this invention is Ito provide a compact, 'light andfdurable cigarette "lighter of the lcharacter rdescribed, whichshall be relatively inexpensive Ito manufacture, which ff lshall `be graceful 4in appearance, easy vto Vmanipulate, 'sure and positiveV in operation, 4and Vyetipraczlti'calfand' vefficient to a high degree in use.

'Ether-'objects '0f this-invention will in rpar-t` be 'n d in part hereinafterjpointedwout.

v arettelighter and The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, .and varrangement ofparts which will be exempli- ,ied in .the construction hereinafter described, and

through the axis of the fuel chamber;

Fig. 4 -is ;a .cross-.sectional `view taken on 4line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig. i5 isza frontelevational zview of the .cigarette lighter .With-the covergopen Fig. Gis a front perspective view of the lcig- .,Fig. 7ista*sreariperspectiveview thereof. "7

AReferring :now tain Vdetail .to :the vvdrawings,V l0 designates a cigarette 4lighter embodyingt'he` invention'- .The same comprises arbody vil and a cover :1;2. The body lll 'may be made of :metal -such as faluminum or other suitable material.

Saidabody Il .is generallyfprismatic in shape vandA "-is formed fwith :a bottom surface 1.3, afrontsurface I4, a rear surface I5, side surfaces 1,6 and "Il, :anda top Y'surface i8. vSaid body is formed :with'an axial'fuel Chamberlin.

'Chambersz comprises a drilled opening exy tending :upwardly from `the bottom surface 1|3.

`At-'th'e l'owervend .ofi-,he 'fuel 'chamber L20 is an internally screw; threaded portion -12l terminating above the bottom-surface '|3. At the `lower end of the screw threaded opening 2l is a counterbored open-ing 23 `having a 4diameter larger than `the Width'of .the bottom surface |23. The 'fuel 'chamber 20 terminates below the upper fendhof the body. AThe lower-*end of the fuel chamber 20` is close'dbya plug 25.

fSaid Eplug 25 comprises an externally `screw threaded "portionl engaging 'thescrew threads `21 At the lower endof "the plug V`or closure mem` ber 25 Yis an 'enlarged knurled head 21'received within the tc'ounterbore'd .opening 23. vThe shank of the'plug-may be undercut-as at 2li-'adjacent the knurled vrhea'd 7.21. The diameter of `the-knurled head is greater than the width of the body so that :portions of 'said `head `project "beyond the isidesurfaces i6 vand Ilwherebytoffacilitate ro- Vparallel side vertical surfaces 35 and 36.

a Y tation of the plug. VThe plug is formed for the purpose hereinafter appearing at its inner end with an axial blind drilled opening 29. Forced into the opening 29 is a diametrically disposed axial strip 30 of spring steel. The edges of the strip 30 are embedded-in the metal as the strip is forced into the drilled opening. The strip 38 has a width somewhat greater than the diameter of the opening 23, so that the edges thereof will form grooves as said strip is forced into the opening. Said strip projects up above the plug and*j serves as a screw driver forV the purpose hereinafter appearing. Y

The body II is formed with a vertical slot 33 Q which extends from the rear surface I forwardl ly.' The slot 33 extends up to the top surface I8 of the body. Said slot is somewhatcloser` to the side surface I1 than it is to the side surface I6.

`to the body. Tongue has'an end surface 1I Y `which'is flush with surface I5 of the body when The slot 33 has a bottomsurface 34. It also forms Said body( Il is furthermore formed at the top with an upwardly and rearwardlyV inclined surface 38 which extends from the front surface Idto the .top surface I8.V vOn one side of slot 33 is a wall v38 and on the opposite side of said slot is'a wall 40. The inclined surface 38V constitutes a por- 'tion Yof the top edge ofsaid wall 39. At the upper 'end' ofV wall 33 is a top surface 42 at .the level of surface I8; Surface 38 extends up to surface 42, Surface 38 furthermore extends sidewise to wall 40,7 -'It: will be noted that surface I8 extends from therear 'surface' I5 forwardly but terminates shortof the front surfacel. Extending downwardly from the front end of said surface I8 'isa'surface 44 'somewhat inclined forwardly. Ex-

tending forwardly from the lower end of surface 44 is a horizontalsurface 45V. Surface 45 extends to surface I6 on, one side and also to the front surface I4. Extending from surface 45 is anl inner horizontal surface 45a which is substantially in the plane of surface 35. Y 5

The walls 39, 40 are formed withzaligned transverse openings carrying a transverse pivot pin "41. The pin 41 traverses the slot 33'for the purl pose hereinafter appearing.

Said? body'II is furthermore for-med with a 'verticaldrilled opening 50 extending downwardly` from the lower surface 34 of the slot 33. Open- Ying V58 is centered with respect t0 the slot and is rdisposed close to the'rearY surface I5 of the body.V

Said body is furthermore formed with an-up-Y wardly and forwardly inclined drilled `opening 5I communicating with thefuel chamber 20 and extending'to the inclined surface 38, perpendicu-.

larly thereto. Said inclined opening 5I is disposed forwardly of slot 33. Its upper end is counter-y Y bored, as at 52, for the purpose hereinafter ap- -pearing v i The body is furthermore formed with a vertical corner notch 55 located at the junction of the surfaces I4, I 6. The upper' end of the notch Y is disposed somewhat below surface .45 and forms an undersurface 56. The lower end 51 of the notch is substantially at the middle of the body.

- The body is formed with a vertical drilled opening 58 whichextends downwardly fromrsurface H51.2 The Wall 59 formed between surfaces 56 and {'45is formed with a vertical opening 60 aligned V,with opening 58,V but of larger diameter. The

notch 55 is located VI4and'l5;` .Y Said body isy furthermore formed with aV sub-` stantially horizontal through opening 62.extend Yat thejunction of surfaces the cover is closed. Said surface 1I is disposed aboveV the opening 50 when the cover is open. Tongue-10 has an undersurface 12 substantially perpendicular to surface 1I. Surface 12 is adapted to overlie opening 50 when the cover is closed. Said cover I2 furthermore comprises an inclined surface 13 adapted to contact surface 38 of the body when the cover is closed. Surface 13 extends to the front end or surface 14 of the cover. It also extends to the vtop surface 16 of the cover,

'forming an edge 11, parallel to surface 1I and spaced forwardly therefrom.. Surface 13 is formed with a socket or blind opening 18 adapted to overlie and register with the counterbored opening 52, for Vthe purpose hereinafter appearing. The surface 16 is complementary with the surfaces 42 Vand I8 making therewith the rectangular top of the cigarette lighter. Surface16 is inthe plane of surfaces 42, I8 when the cover Vis closed. Extendingr to one side of tongue 10 is a cover portion 88 having a'rear surface 8| complementary to surface 44 and adapted to contacttheV latter. Portion' is also formed with a lower surface 82 complementary to surface 45 of the body and adapted to contact the latter. Said portion 80 is formed with a notch or recess 83 Vextending to surfaces -82 `and 8| and Vadapted to overlie opening 68 and communicate with the forward end of opening 62, for the pur- Vpose hereinafter appearing.

It will now be understood that the cover I2 when closed completes the upper end of the' blocklike body to form substantially a prism.' Said cover, however, is formed at vthe forward end thereof with a forwardly extending bump or projection which may be engaged by the thumb to facilitatelifting of the cover.

"Means is provided to releasably retain the cover in open or closed position. To this end there is disposed within the bottom of opening I5, a coil compression spring 9U. x Mounted within said opening, and on spring 90, is a pin 9|. The upper end of 'pin 9I is adapted to contact Vsurface 1I when the cover is open and surface 12 when the cover is closed. The spring pressed .pin 9| therefore tends to maintainV the cover in either' open or closed position. Y

Mounted within the counterbored opening 52 is a sleeve 93. Extending through the sleeve 93 and through opening 5I, is a wick 94 which Yextends into the fuel chamber 20. The upper end of theY wick projects from sleeve 43. Y When the wick is lit, the flame projects Vupwardly and for-V wardly. When Athe cover is closed, the-wick, as wellras the upper end ofthe sleevewhich projects above surface 38,is received in the VsocketV 18 of the cover. It will be'noted that the inclined surface38 extends all the way back'so as to provide sufcientpair ,all around the'wick. Thus, when vtheli-ghter is moved, there is no likelihood ,of

any dead space or vacuum beingcreated within the vicinity of the name. Such construction therefore insuresV against the Vflame being extinwhen thelighterfisrnovedback andfforth. Y

"j Screwed itothe screwfthreaded portion l'63 -of operinglis'ascrew plug 915, -'Witl'1-inthe vopen-- ing G Zfis'jacoil `compression A*springfiiii' At' the forward endofthe opening'is a'piece'Qfi of flint. The spring 96 i pushes )the `flint 9 '1 forwardly-for the purpose hereinafter appearing. i

-Mountedwith'in openingsEB, 60 'isga pin or shaft- |00.` The -'pin |00 hasfa shank portion |0|, the" lower end of 'which is received in 'openin-gf. *A1 "e'supperl'endfv of shank" rtion v'-|-|| is an enlarged 4portion 4|12* received injopeningiil, The l'enf :ged-"portionflI-is "formedjat itsiupperend wi h aninternally screw'threaded blindopening H Screwedifinto theopening is a Iscrew Hill. Re ive'd j -wit notch {Band -on'shank portion IDU-j is-ajknurled finger Wheel |05@ The shank "|"0'{| isknurled","'asjat fdjto'grip vtloe'inner surface of thei'opening in'the knurled roller Jor sleeve |05 sc -that j said lnurle'd Lwh eelwi1l rotate with the '-Qn the upper end "of portion [|02 *of pin TI-rllfis a "flintf'wheel jIjBBf wheel has a vcentral opening 'througlfwhich the shank of the mitV extends. fThehead-o'f the screw contactswthe Atoiar of the flint wheel, The upper end 'he head |112 of pin lliiii may lbe Aformed with tchesfand the iun'dersidejof the flint wheel may -b vormed with "serrations engaging `the notches so Jthat the? screw jwill rigidly fix the flint wheel tfthepin The flint piece '91 is pressed against ith-erupt when;

I It wil'lmowbe understood that'when a thumb v"engageslthe'-thumbv wheel or Jrollerfl'l "and the latter otated, `the'wheelffwill bejrotateijtherevh'th tof/cause 'sparksjtoi impinge 4against the upper-end of the wickjtol 'caus, e"a"fl ame The screw driver blade '30 maybe used to unscrew the .screw 95 when vit is desiredjto insert ain-ew piece of lflint `into the cigarette j lighter.

It willfthusvbe seen that 'there/is' provided a devigceiniwhichthe several objects of this inventionf'are achieved, and vwhich is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cigarette lighter comprising a body having front, side, rear and top surfaces, said body being formed at its upper end with a slot extending to its upper surface, said body being furthermore formed with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface adjacent said slot and extending from the front surface to the top surface of the b'ody, a pivot pin on the body traversing said slot, a cover having a top surface complementary to the top surface of the body and comprising a tongue disposed within said slot and formed with an opening receiving said pivot pin, said body and cover together forming substantially a quadrangle prism, said cover having an inclined undersurf ace complementary to and adapted to contact the inclined surface on said body, said body being formed with a fuel chamber and also be ing formed with a wick passage communicating with the fuel chamber and said passage being perpendicular to the inclined surface of said body, said cover being thereof with asocket registering with said wick passage, said body bein-g formed at its upper sur- 6 'face and adjacent? the Afrontrsurface thereofw'ith va notch located Yat one sidel'of 'ltheinclined sur 'face of the body, a flint vwheel rotatably mounted l'in l'said7notch, 'said vcoverV having aportion' 'reyceived within said notch, said p'ortion :of `said cover being formed with a recess ltofreceive'sa'id intj'vvheel,V l 'Y V '2. Ai cigarette 'lighter zcomprising f a fone. piece body-'having `affront surface, side surfaces, a rear sur-face, and a 'top surface, said body having at its yupperendfan upwardly and rearwardlyfin- -clined surface-extending from'the front surface to 'the i top Vsurface, said inclined-'surface `extendingftoLoneside-surface of said 'bodyysfaid bo`dy being furthermore formed at its front surface with a notch disposedlto one side of said inclined surface,a` cover hinged to said 'fbody,f said cover Y'ha-ving' IanV inclined sur-'face`- contacting Ithe-"inclined surface of the body, said-cover furthermore having a portion received within said `'notclfiisaid body being formed with alongitudinalffuel-chamber; and with a wick opening communicating'fyvi'th `the fuel l'clf'i'amber Vand extending to said inclined 'surface of said body substantially at Vright angles thereto, 'awick within said Wick opening projecting upward-iy'anfd forwardly lof `the 4"body, said cover being 'formed with a socket to lreceivelthe exposed endn of the wick., ai-lint Vwheel rotatably mounted on' said body and located-'within said notch Fand' adjacent "saidl wick, :and said fportion of vsaid cover havingfa :recess t o-'-receive Qsaid body having affront surface, side surfaces;=a'rear surface, and aV top surface, said body-havingat'its upper end an upwardlyanrearwardly'inclined surface extending 4 from the front surf-ace to4 the tcp-surface, -saidinc'lined surfacefextending -it'one sidesurfacevv of said body,said body `beingfurthermore formedV at its 'front surface :with la notch disposed lto one side of' saidv inclined surface, 'a cover vhirnged to said *bodyy said 5 cover having fan inclined surface contacting the inclined surface of the body, said cover furthermore having a portion received within said notch, said body being formed with a longitudinal fuel chamber, and with a wick opening communicating with the fuel chamber and extending to said inclined surface of said body substantially at right angles thereto, a wick within said wick opening projecting upwardly and forwardly of the body, said cover being formed with a socket to receive the exposed end of the wick, a flint wh'eel rotatably mounted y on said body and located within said notch and formed in the inclined surface s adjacent said wick, and said portion of said cover having a recess to receive said wheel, said cover being formed with a projection at its front end extending forwardly of said front surface of said body, and adapted to be engaged by a thumb to facilitate lifting the cover, said projection extending across the' full width of the cover and also extending substantially from the underside ofv said portion of said cover to the top surface of said cover.

e. A cigarette lighter comprising a one piece body having a front surface, side surfaces, a rear surface, and a top surface, said body having at its upper end, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface extending from the front surface to the Vtop surface, said inclined surface extending to one side surface of said body, said body being formed with a fuel chamber and with a wick opening extending from said fuel chamber to said inclined surface of said body, said wick opening being substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface lof said body, a forwardly and upwardly inclined-'.Wickin saidwick opening, said body beT ing-formed'with a slot adjacent said inclined surface; said body being furthermore formed at its front end with a notchA disposed at one side of s aid inclined surface, ak pivotpin traversing said slot, a. cover having a tongue received in said slot and formed with' an openingreceiving the pivot p in, said cover having an'inclined surface contacting the inclined surface of thebody, and a portion .received within said notch, saidgbody being formedrwith a vertical notch at the junction of .therfrontsurface with one of said side-surfaces, and spaced `fromv the first -rnotch and aligned therewith, a-thumb wheel-rotatably mounted in said'vertical notch, a iiintwheel'xedwto rotate Ywith said thumb wheel, and'received within the first-mentioned notch of -said body, said portion of said'cover being formed with a recess to receivethe intwheel. d l- ,A Y k5. YA cigarette lighter comprising a oneipiece body having a front surface, side surfaces,'a rear surface, and a top surface, said body having at its upper end an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface extending from the front surface to the top surface, said inclined surface extending to one side surface of said body, said body tion of said coverbeing formed Withakrecessto receive said flint vvheel.-r y 6.A cigarettelighter comprising a oneV body havingga front surface, side surfaces,` aurea surface, and a top surface,.said.body havingat its upper end an upwardly-and re'arwardlywinclined niece surface extending from 'the y front Ysurface to'fthe i top surface, said inclined surface extendin'g'to one side surface cf said bday, said bodybeing-formed Y With a longitudinal fuel chamber and with?, wick opening. extending from said'fueljchamberfto-said inclined surface of said body,`V said --wickopening a being substantiallyperpendicular*to saidinclined being formed with a longitudinal fuel chamber a and with a-wick opening extending from said fuel chamber to said inclinedsurface of said body, said wick opening being substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface, said body being furthermore formed at its front end with a notch Y disposed to one side of said inclined surface, a one piece coverrpivoted` to the Vupper end of the body and forming therewith -a substantially quadranglesprism, said cover having an inclined undersurface contacting the inclined surface of said body, received within said notch, said body being formed with a vertical notch at theV junction o f theA front surface with one of the side surfaces said cover furthermore having a portion'v surface,l said body beingy furthermore formed at its front end with a notch-disposed. tof one side ofsaid inc1inedsurface,'a one 'piece-cover piti-.- oted to the upper end of thev body and forming therewith a substantially quadrangle prism, said cover having an inclinedundersurface contact-y ing the inclined surface ofsaid body, said cover furthermore having a portion said notch, said body being formed with a vertical notch at the junction vof the front surfacewith one of the side surfaces andfspaced from the first notch and alignedtherewith,` a thumb Wheel rotatably mounted in said -verticalnotch;a'flint wheel fixed tomate with .said-thumb wheel' and received within the first-mentionednotch ofsaid body,fand said portionof said cover beingformed witha recess to receive said flint Wheel, said cover being formed at its front end with a bump pro- Y 'jecting forwardly ofsaid front surface of said body, said bump extending acrossthe full width of .the cover and being adapted -tolbeV engaged by a thumb to facilitate lifting the cover. i

ABENJAMIN COOPER.

ERT. Fr HOHMANN.-

received within 

